How to Check on Your IRS Stimulus Check Status
Where to check your stimulus payment status
The IRS has a tool called Get My Payment that shows you whether a stimulus check was sent to you, when it was sent, and how it was delivered. You reach it through IRS.gov by searching "Get My Payment" or going directly to the tool on their website. You do not need to log into an IRS account — the tool works with basic information you already have.
The tool asks for your Social Security number, date of birth, and mailing address. It then tells you the payment status: whether the IRS issued it, the date it was issued, and the delivery method (direct deposit to a bank account, mailed check, or debit card). If a check was mailed, the tool shows the expected arrival date based on when it left the IRS.
Get My Payment covers all three rounds of stimulus payments issued during the pandemic (2020, 2021, and 2021). If you received multiple payments, you can check the status of each one separately by running the tool again.
Key Takeaways
- Get My Payment is a free IRS tool that shows whether you received a stimulus payment, when it was sent, and how it arrived.
- The tool requires only your Social Security number, date of birth, and mailing address — no login or account creation needed.
- If the tool shows a check was mailed but you never received it, you can report it missing and request a replacement through the IRS.
- If Get My Payment shows no payment was issued to you, you may be able to claim it on your tax return if you meet income requirements for that year.
- The tool updates once per day, usually overnight, so checking multiple times in one day will show the same result.
What Get My Payment tells you and what it does not
The tool shows three pieces of information: payment status, issue date, and delivery method. "Status" means whether the IRS processed and sent the payment — not whether your bank received it or whether a check arrived at your mailbox. If the status says "sent," the payment left the IRS, but mail delays or banking delays can still occur after that point.
Get My Payment does not tell you why you did not receive a payment if one was issued to you. It does not explain may be able to access decisions. It does not let you update your address or banking information to redirect a payment that was already sent. Those tasks require different steps, described in the sections below.
If Get My Payment shows your check was mailed but you never received it
Start by waiting the full timeframe the tool provides. Mail from the IRS typically arrives within 7 to 10 business days of the issue date shown in Get My Payment, but delays happen. If the tool shows an issue date more than two weeks in the past and you still have not received the check, you can report it missing.
To report a missing check, call the IRS at 800-829-1040 (the main customer service line). Have your Social Security number, the payment amount shown in Get My Payment, and the issue date ready. The IRS can issue a replacement check, which takes an additional 4 to 6 weeks to arrive. Some callers report long hold times; calling early in the morning or mid-week may reduce your wait.
If you find the check later, do not cash it. Contact the IRS again to let them know, or the replacement check and the original will both be processed and you will owe the duplicate amount back.
If Get My Payment shows no payment was issued to you
This means the IRS did not send you a stimulus check in any of the three rounds. This can happen for several reasons: your income was above the limit for that year, you were not a U.S. citizen or resident alien, you were claimed as a dependent on someone else's tax return, or the IRS did not have your address on file.
If you believe you should have received a payment, you can claim it on your tax return for the year the payment was issued. The IRS calls this the Recovery Rebate Credit. You report it on your tax return using IRS Form 1040 or 1040-SR. If you have not filed a return for that year, you can file one now to claim the credit, even if you normally would not owe taxes.
To claim the credit, you will need to show that you met the income limits for that year and that you were a U.S. citizen or resident alien. The income thresholds were: $75,000 for single filers, $112,500 for heads of household, and $150,000 for married couples filing jointly (these amounts varied slightly by year). If your income was below these limits and you were not claimed as a dependent, you likely may have access to.
If Get My Payment shows direct deposit but the money never arrived in your bank account
First, confirm the bank account information shown in Get My Payment matches the account where you expected the deposit. If it does not match — for example, it shows an old account you closed — the deposit went to that account instead. You will need to contact that bank to ask if the deposit arrived and whether you can recover it.
If the account information is correct but the deposit never arrived, wait at least 5 business days from the issue date shown in Get My Payment. Banking delays can extend this, especially if the deposit was issued on a Friday or before a holiday. If more than 5 business days have passed, contact your bank's customer service line and provide the issue date and payment amount. Ask them to search their records for an incoming ACH deposit from the IRS for that amount on or near that date.
If your bank confirms the deposit never arrived, call the IRS at 800-829-1040. The IRS can investigate whether the deposit was rejected by your bank (which happens if the account was closed or if the routing number was incorrect). If it was rejected, the IRS can reissue the payment as a check instead.
If your address or banking information changed after the payment was issued
Once the IRS has issued a stimulus payment, Get My Payment cannot redirect it. If a check was mailed to an old address and you have moved, you can file a change of address with the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) and ask them to forward mail from that address. However, IRS checks sometimes do not forward if the address change is recent.
If the check does not arrive after 4 to 6 weeks at your new address, report it missing using the steps described above. When you call the IRS, mention that you have moved and provide your current address so the replacement check goes to the right place.
If direct deposit was sent to a closed or incorrect bank account, you cannot change it after the fact. The IRS will reissue the payment as a check if you report the problem. This takes 4 to 6 weeks.
What to do if Get My Payment is not working or shows an error
Get My Payment occasionally goes offline for maintenance or experiences technical problems. If the tool will not load or shows an error message, try again in a few hours. The IRS usually performs maintenance overnight or early morning.
If you see an error message that says your information does not match IRS records, double-check that you entered your Social Security number, date of birth, and address exactly as they appear on your tax return or Social Security card. Spaces, hyphens, and capitalization matter. If you are certain the information is correct and the tool still rejects it, call the IRS at 800-829-1040 to verify your information and check your payment status by phone.
If you are unable to use Get My Payment because you do not have internet access, you can call the IRS instead. The phone line can provide the same information: whether a payment was issued, when, and how it was delivered.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Get My Payment to check on someone else's stimulus payment?
No. Get My Payment requires the person's own Social Security number and date of birth. If you are checking on a payment for a spouse, child, or dependent, you will need their individual information. If you are a representative or power of attorney, you may be able to call the IRS instead, but the tool itself is for individual use only.
How often does Get My Payment update?
The tool updates once per day, usually overnight. Checking it multiple times in the same day will show the same result. If your status changes, it will appear the next day.
What if I received a stimulus payment but I think I was not supposed to?
Contact the IRS at 800-829-1040 or wait for the IRS to contact you. The IRS has been reviewing payments and may ask you to return money if you did not meet the income limits or other requirements. Do not spend the money if you believe there was an error. The IRS will send you a notice if action is needed.
Can I claim a stimulus payment I never received on my taxes if I did not file a return that year?
Yes. You can file a return for that year now and claim the Recovery Rebate Credit for any stimulus payments you did not receive. You do not need to have owed taxes that year to file. The IRS will process your return and send you the credit as a refund.
How long does it take to get a replacement check if the original was lost?
The IRS typically issues a replacement check within 4 to 6 weeks of your report. Mail delivery adds another 7 to 10 business days. In total, expect 6 to 8 weeks from the date you call to report the missing check.